11 July 2009
A massive official cover-up could be underway after police investigations into the ballooning illegal trade in rhino horns netted two Zanu PF ministers.
Investigations by The Standard show that a police crack unit following the trail of rhino poachers ended up at the doorsteps of Zanu PF politicians who cannot be named, at least for now, because of the complexity of the case.
The two politicians have been saved from prosecution after the dockets "mysteriously disappeared" from the magistrates' court recently.
Judicial sources said yesterday the dockets were too hot to handle.
"No one wanted to take the case because we all know that cases involving high-profile people are always covered up," said one of the sources.
He also revealed that prosecutors feared they could burn their fingers if they dared to take up the sensitive case.
Officials keen to see the prosecution of the senior government officials yesterday expressed frustration at the way the matter was handled.
They said a heavy lid slammed on the case could discourage detectives who were keen to stamp out poaching activities.
International Rhino Foundation
Conservators in Zimbabwe remove rhino horns to make them less attractive to poachers: Ministers are accused of taking part in the illegal trade in horns.
Over the past two weeks, The Standard has talked to people familiar with the case. What is unmistakable is that people fear their lives could be in trouble if their involvement in the case is publicised.
While Attorney-General Johannes Tomana could not be reached to explain circumstances surrounding the case, Environmental and Natural Resources Management Minister, Francis Nhema admitted on Thursday that senior Zanu PF officials had been implicated in the resurgent cases of rhino poaching.
Although he refused to identify those implicated, Nhema said the government was investigating cases where some ministers were allegedly involved.
Nhema's admission coincided with a new report by the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) saying 12 rhinos were now being poached each month in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The report said rhino poaching was poised to hit a 15-year high driven by Asian demand for horns.
In Zimbabwe, the situation was said to be dire because people who were caught dealing in rhino trade illegally, escaped prosecution because of their political connections.
"Yes, it might be possible that some government officials are abusing their powers and are involved in rhino poaching but we do not have the names. We are still investigating the matter," Nhema said.
"The HE (President Mugabe) is even concerned about the issue. He asked me for the names of the ministers involved."
Nhema said an unnamed minister was implicated in a case where a Chinese national was arrested for poaching rhinos.
"We made our investigations and we found out that the person who was very close to the minister was the one who was using the minister's name," Nhema said.
He said the government had stepped up anti-rhino poaching campaigns and last week the minister commissioned 11 Toyota Landcruisers for the programme.
The Zimbabwe Conservation Trust chairman, Johnny Rodrigues said they were also carrying out their own investigations into reports that government officials were behind some poaching syndicates.
"It's true that there is an increase in rhino poaching in Zimbabwe and the situation is getting out of hand," Rodrigues said.
"Three weeks ago two rhinos were killed in Hwange and we are positive that some top people in the government are involved.
"Right now we have the names of some senior officials who are implicated but we can not release their names because investigations are still underway."
Rodrigues said people were blaming foreigners for poaching yet senior government officials were also involved.
"We cannot blame foreigners only because there are also people from the top who are involved.
"There are cases where some members of the army were shot by the anti-poaching team and it's quite clear that these soldiers were sent by very influential people," he said.
According to the Cites report, rhino poaching is threatening the success of more than a decade's work of bringing the rhino population back to healthy levels.
Cites expresses concern with the way cases of poaching were being handled in the courts.
"For example, earlier this week a parks ranger arrested with overwhelming evidence against him for having killed three rhinos in the Chipinge Safari Area was acquitted without any satisfactory explanation for the verdict," reads the report.
"Similarly in September 2008 a gang of four Zimbabwean poachers who admitted to killing 18 rhinos were also freed in a failed judiciary process."
A rhino horn can sell for thousands of dollars on the black market. Zimbabwe's rhino population is believed to have declined from about 830 in 2007 to 740 at the end of last year despite an excellent birth rate in monitored herds.
Last month a Chinese national appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Court after he was caught with 21.5 kg of tusks . He had no licence.
Wang Xuebin (49), who is accused of Contravening Section 59 (2) of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20:14, was remanded out of custody.
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i hope one day to read an article that a Rhino has sorted the poachers out
Yet again the ZanuPF idiots who do these things get away scot free. It happened with the willowgate scandal and zisco steel and many others. These enemies of the state have to be brought to book and be publicly hanged to show tht any one raping the country of it's resources will not go unpunished. Thieves are not welcome in the new Zimbabwe. Any one with a brain would know that Rhino Horn is matted hair like finger nails. Cut it and it will grow back. So tranquilise the rhino cut the horn , sell that horn to the arabs, rhino wakes up grows new horn, then same thing happens next year. Rhino's live, poachers are no longer needed and the arabs are happy and brings more foraign currency into the country and everyone is a winner. It's not bloody rocket science to work that one out.
No, you don't get it, the rhinos are just the dry run to see just how much ZANU-PF can bleed Zimbabwe before someone puts a stop to it!
A few rhinos, while reprehensible, are nothing compared to the deal ZANU-PF will work out with the Chinese for Zimbabwe's platinum!
Platinum is far more precious per ounce than rhino horn!
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Such allegations must be thoroughly investigated and culprits brought to book, there should be no sacred cows, whether ZPF or MDC and these political parties must stop the nonsense that if any one of them is caught then they plead political persecution. Aba ngaasungwe and punished accordingly as a clear message that the law is blind.
Akapfunde - you agree, it looks as if there has been a cover up here, and if there has been, then those responsible should be jailed?
for all those that say Zimbabwe isnt corrupt.. have a read of this article... ZANU PF politicians caught red handed by the looks of it. Disgraceful.